Masters of Mahamudra: Songs and Histories of the Eighty-Four Buddhist SiddhasIn Tibetan Buddhism, Mahamudra represents a perfected level of meditative realization: it is the inseparable union of wisdom and compassion, of emptiness and skillful means. These eighty-four masters, some historical, some archetypal, accomplished this practice in India where they lived between the eighth and twelfth centuries. Leading unconventional lives, the siddhas include some of the greatest Buddhist teachers; Tilopa, Naropa, and Marpa among them. Through many years of study, Keith Dowman has collected and translated their songs of realization and the legends about them. In consultation with contemporary teachers, he gives a commentary on each of the Great Adepts and culls from available resources what we can know of their history. Dowman's extensive Introduction traces the development of tantra and discusses the key concepts of the Mahamudra. In a lively and illuminating style, he unfolds the deeper understandings of mind that the texts encode. His treatment of the many parallels to contemporary psychology and experience makes a valualbe contribution to our understanding of human nature. |
Contents
1 | |
Songs and Legends of the Eightyfour Mahasiddhas | 33 |
Texts and Sources | 384 |
The Siddhas Genealogy and Genealogical Tree | 389 |
Notes to the Commentary | 394 |
Other editions - View all
Masters of Mahamudra: Songs and Histories of the Eighty-Four Buddhist Siddhas Abhayadatta Limited preview - 1985 |
Masters of Mahamudra: Songs and Histories of the Eighty-Four Buddhist Siddhas Abhayadatta No preview available - 1985 |
Common terms and phrases
Aryadeva asked attained the Dakini’s became begging Bhusuku Bodhisattva body brahmin Buddha Buddhist cakra century compassion concepts consort creative and fulfillment cremation ground Dakini Dakini’s Paradise dehana deity Dengipa Dharma disciple eighty-four emptiness energy enlightenment flower gained Ghantapa Goraksa Guhyasamaja Guru Hevajra Historiography India Indrabhuti initiation jalandhara Kambala Kanhapa karma karmic king king’s Krsnacarya Kukkuripa legend Lfiipa lineage lived Luipa magical Mahamudra mahamudra-siddhi MAHASIDDHA mahayana Maitripa mandala master meditation mental Minapa mind’s modes monk mother-tantra mundane Nagabodhi Nagarjuna Nalanda Naropa nature ndth nirvana non-dual nyid Oddiyana Pataliputra path perfect insight phenomena practice precepts pure awareness pure pleasure reality realization realms rtog s'aiva sadhana samadhi samsara Santipa Saraha Sarnvara Savaripa sensual siddhas skillful means song sound space speech and mind Sri Parvata Tantra tantric tantrika TARA Taranatha taught teaching techniques thought Tibet Tibetan Tilopa tion told twelve ultimate Vajra Virfipa Virupa vision visualization yoga yogin